HÀ NỘI – Two taskforces specialising in theft will be founded in Hà Nội and HCM City after proposals from representatives at a conference of the Ministry of Public Security held in Hà Nội yesterday.

The conference aimed to review the ministry’s work in the first six months of the year, and set up a plan for the last six months.

Secretary of the HCM City Party, Đinh La Thăng, said that the city faced rampant crime, with ever increasing sophistication, so it was essential to have a professional street crime team, including the best policemen as well as dedicated amateurs.

After receiving Thăng’s guidance, concerned ministries and departments considered legal regulations related to the foundation of such a team.

But, Lieutenant General Lê Văn Đệ, deputy director of the General Department of Politics under the Việt Nam’s People’s Police, said that at present it was difficult to set up taskforces specialising in these areas because some of the work undertaken could violate laws. For instance, the Law on Road Traffic regulated against running red traffic lights, so the taskforce would be impeded when chasing criminals.

“We encourage the proposal of founding the taskforces, but the work should be considered carefully because we cannot set up a team working illegally,” said Đệ.

Lieutenant General Nguyễn Danh Cộng, chief of the secretariat of the Ministry of Public Security, said that the main task of the ministry was focusing on preventing crimes.

The initial work was not only apprehending thieves, but also preventing the crimes in the first place, he said.

During the first six months this year, the Ministry of Public Security opened criminal investigations in more than 21,000 cases, arresting more than 42,700 people, according to reports released by the ministry at the conference.

More than 1,000 criminal gangs were apprehended. A total of 4,820 gambling cases were discovered and investigated.

The police treated more than 9,400 cases violating regulations on economy, and more than 8,800 cases violating regulations on environmental protection. -- VNS